Abita Select and Harvest Beers

[Abita Springs, October 29, 2009]- - Abita Select is an exclusive line of premium draft beers put out by the Abita Brewing Co. about every six weeks or so, depending on how fast the previous batch sells. The Select series is never the same; the beer is different with every batch the company brews. The Select series is always available, just never the same. Only an elite group of restaurants and beer bars receive the exclusive brew, and they are mostly local.
“We brew the Select series to exemplify a style we don’t normally do,” said Nick Smith, a brewer at the Abita Brewery. “And it’s usually a specialty beer, so we can show off our prowess.”
Some restaurants use the Abita Select beers in “Select Dinners,” which are prepared specifically to go with the current Select brew, said Nick Smith.
The Abita Brewing Co. also uses some of its test batches as the Select series. While they were creating their flagship beer Jockamo, a traditional Indian Pale Ale, Abita Brewing Co. sold the test batches as the Select series, until they got it just right. Even these test batches are never the same; each has its own flavor.
“We brew these different selects to keep the customers interested,” said Nick Smith.
The Amber Ale is made from a blend of three different malts: pale, munich and caramel. It also is brewed with a lot of hops, the female flower clusters from the hop plant, to enhance the flavor and aroma. The amount of hops used is what mostly determines the flavor of the beer. Amber Ale does not have a specific recipe. The only thing it needs to be classified as Amber Ale is that it ranges in color from light golden to deep red. The rest is up to the creative mind of the Brew master.
The Oatmeal Stout is a more sweet flavored Stout. Stout beer is usually a dark beer with a sometimes bitter flavor. The use of oatmeal provides a sweeter, less bitter taste, and it also makes the beer feel silky-smooth in the mouth. The Belgian White, also called “witbier” in Dutch, is made from barley and wheat. This beer will look hazy and almost white when cold, hence its name.
The Imperial Stout is a strong, thick, dark beer with slightly higher alcohol content. It is considered a winter beer because of its thickness as opposed to a summer beer, which is thinner and lighter. It will be coming soon to select vendors.
“This is about the third or fourth Stout we’ve made since I’ve been here,” said Ryan Ackerman. “There is always such a high demand for this style of beer. Every year the demand seems to grow.”
The Abita Brewing Co. also brews Harvest beers. These beers make use of local, seasonal Louisiana ingredients. The Harvest beers include Strawberry Harvest Lager, Pecan Harvest Ale, and Satsuma Harvest Wit.
The Strawberry Harvest Lager is a wheat beer. It’s dry and light with a hint of strawberries that are home-grown right here in Louisiana. Its sweeter taste makes it a perfect pairing for desserts.
The Pecan Harvest Ale is made with toasted Louisiana pecans. It is copper in color, light in body and smooth tasting. The pecans make this beer unique because most nut flavored beers are not made with real nuts at all. The oils from the pecans give it its nutty flavor and aroma.
The Satsuma Harvest Wit is made from wheat, oats, barley and homegrown Louisiana Satsumas, a type of citrus fruit. It has a hint of spice and citrus flavor. It is pale in color, like the color of straw with and orange tint, and has a slightly hazy look.
The Harvest beers will make an appearance every year. And while the Select beer is available year round, once a specific batch is gone, it is unknown if it shall ever return. Only a few Select beers have been repeated.
The Select beers can only been found in certain places, including The Abita Brew Pub, the Hotel Monteleone, The Bull Dog, Lager’s International, and Red Fish Grill. For a complete list of vendors, visit The Abita Brewing Co. website at www.abita.com.



NOLA.com